There She Is...
I was raised in Hermitage, Pennsylvania and lived in the state through high
school. I currently reside in Columbia, Missouri where I am a senior at the
University of Missouri in the prestigious School of Journalism. I am
pursuing a degree in Convergence Journalism, where I study the
merging between the media and different modes of communications.
In my years as a student, I have garnered various prestigious
academic honors such as being named a Walter Williams Scholar,
a C.A.S.E. Scholar, an initiated member of Omicron Delta Kappa, and
more. I have also held several leadership positions on campus;
including the University of Missouri Panhellenic Association
Vice President of Programming & Outreach, a member of
Alpha Chi Omega (Alpha Nu) Executive Board, and the
Marching Mizzou Leadership Team, Auxiliaries
Representative. At only 20 years old, I have experience
working for one of the largest privately held companies
in the world, as a corporate communications intern.
In 2017, I competed in my first local competition in the
Miss America Organization. After two years of
involvement, I was named Miss Missouri 2019. In
December of 2019, I was honored to represent Missouri
at the 2020 Miss America Competition, finishing as second
runner-up. Growing up in a single parent home,
scholarships are crucial to my academic endeavors.
Since my first competition, I have earned over $50,000 in
scholarship money. In addition, I won the Dakota State University and Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences STEM Scholarship, received an unrestricted cash award of $5,000, and the ability to enroll at Dakota State for a post-graduate degree, for a total scholarship value that could exceed $85,000. The Miss Missouri and Miss America Organizations have given me a platform to grow as a female leader and promote causes that I am passionate about.
Baton twirling, my talent, has been apart of my life since I was six years old. Since my start in an after school program, I have won eight World Championship medals, 28 National Championships awards, a Grand National Twirling Championship, and I am a two-time Miss Majorette of America. I can be found on Saturday afternoons, in the fall, performing with the Marching Mizzou, as a University of Missouri Feature Twirler.
I attribute my successes in life to mentors, so it is only fitting that my social impact initiative, Leave Your MARK, highlights the importance of developing mentorships. Leave Your MARK advocates for the increase in both the quality and quantity of positive mentor relationships. In an effort to leave my mark, I have developed my own 501(c)3 non-profit, Writeous Girls, Inc., which partners with the Missouri School of Journalism. Writeous Girls, Inc. is founded upon a curriculum that works to empower young girls through media and community, as this has been a significant part of my life. I also mentor numerous young twirlers around the country as they evolve in the sport.
During my year as Miss Missouri, I am developing my social impact initiative to reach a greater audience around the state of Missouri, I speak to a wide variety of groups about the importance of mentoring and attest to the value of the Miss America Organization. I am a partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Missouri as an official representative, I work to recruit mentors for their program, as well as serve as a Big to my Little. I also serve as the Missouri Goodwill Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network.